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Dr. William N. Ruud to lead institution

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Harrisburg - Dr. William N. Ruud, a management professor and former vice president at California State University, Stanislaus, has been selected to serve as the next president of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's (PASSHE) Board of Governors made the selection today at the conclusion of a national search. Dr. Ruud will begin his tenure at Shippensburg on February 19. He will replace Dr. George F. 'Jody' Harpster, who has served as the University's interim president since July 2005.

Dr. Ruud currently is a professor of management, policy and strategy at Cal State, Stanislaus. He joined the faculty in August after serving for 2½ as the university's vice president for development and university relations. Previously, he served for two years as executive-in-residence in the office of Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne while on leave as vice president for institutional advancement at Boise State University. He began his academic career as an assistant professor of management at the University of Toledo in 1981.

"Dr. Ruud has had a long and distinguished career in higher education," said Board of Governors Chairman Kenneth M. Jarin. "He will bring to Shippensburg an outstanding record of success, both as an educator and administrator. He is an excellent choice to lead Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania into the future."

"We're very happy that Dr. Ruud was selected to be the next president of Shippensburg University," said Chairman of the University's Council of Trustees Kenneth Shoemaker. "Shippensburg University is nationally recognized for its academic excellence and is known as a leader in this region for the many services it provides. As the University continues to enhance its programming and outreach, Dr. Ruud is uniquely qualified to provide the leadership necessary to ensure the university fulfills its mission and remains a valuable resource for the citizens of Pennsylvania."

Dr. Ruud said he is looking forward to assuming the Shippensburg presidency.

"I am absolutely excited to accept this appointment to be president of Shippensburg University," Dr. Ruud said. "I look forward to coming to Pennsylvania and taking Shippensburg to the next level."

As vice president for development and university relations at Cal State, Stanislaus, Dr. Ruud was responsible for the leadership, management and organization of the university's advancement program, including development, alumni relations, athletics, athletic fundraising and development, communications, community affairs and specials events. He also represented the university's interests to the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University system. He conducted various successful fundraising campaigns, initiated a presidential scholarship fundraising campaign and helped to double membership in the university's alumni association.

Dr. Ruud earned a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration and hospital administration from the University of North Dakota and both master's and doctoral degrees in organizational behavior from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

After earning his doctoral degree, Dr. Ruud worked at Northwestern Louisiana State University, the U.S. Army Research Institute and Central Michigan University before joining the faculty at the University of Toledo . He was named director of undergraduate studies in the College of Business in 1985 and director of graduate studies in 1987, and was promoted to associate professor the same year. In March 1989 he was named associate vice president for student affairs, and, two years later, was appointed interim associate director of the University Honors Program. He then was named interim dean of the College of Business Administration in July 1992, a position he held for a year before being hired as dean of the College of Business & Economics at Boise State University in 1993.

At Boise State, Dr. Ruud was responsible for an annual budget of approximately $7.5 million while overseeing 65 faculty and 25 staff. He was named the university's vice president for institutional advancement in 1998, serving at the chief advancement officer. He had direct responsibility for alumni and university relations and development, including the BSU Foundation, with more than $50 million in assets. He took a two-year leave of absence from the university beginning in December 2000 to serve as senior policy adviser and chief education adviser to Gov. Kempthorne.

Dr. Ruud has belonged to numerous professional and community organizations, including the American Society of Personnel Administrators and American College Personnel Association. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Modesto United Way, where he served as chair of the organization¹s most recent capital campaign. He has published numerous journal articles and has made presentations at dozens of regional and national conferences.

Shippensburg University was founded in 1871 and enrolls approximately 7,500 students, including about 1,000 graduate students. It offers 40 undergraduate and 18 graduate degree programs and employs 400 full- and part-time faculty.

With more than 109,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 405,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.